Bloodstock has officially announced the dates and locations for the 2026 Metal 2 The Masses (M2TM) grand finals, presented by Westons Stowford Press. Kicking off on April 19th, the initiative will span 30 locations across the UK, Ireland, Norway, and beyond, with winners securing a 30-minute slot on the Stowford Press New Blood Stage this August.
In addition to performance slots, sponsors ESP and Engl Amps are providing three major prizes for M2TM victors, including a new-for-2026 EC400 Quilted Maple guitar, a Phoenix 204DX bass, and a Ravager IR amp head with a matching cab.
UK & Ireland M2TM Grand Final Dates:
- 8th May – Belfast – Voodoo
- 23rd May – Leeds – The Belgrave
- 23rd May – Edinburgh – La Belle Angele
- 23rd May – Sheffield – Corporation
- 29th May – Bournemouth – Bear Cave
- 30th May – Northampton – The Black Prince
- 6th June – Manchester – Rebellion
- 6th June – Norwich – Brickmakers
- 6th June – Birmingham – The Flapper
- 20th June – Wrexham – Penny Black
- 20th June – Newport – Corn Exchange
- 20th June – Hitchin – Club 85
- 20th June – Bridgwater – Cobblestones
- 20th June – Newcastle – Trillians
- 20th June – Gravesend – Leo’s Red Lion
- 26th June – Guernsey – The Pit @ St James
- 26th June – Cheltenham – Frog and Fiddle
- 27th June – Nottingham – Saltbox
- 27th June – Burnley – Sanctuary
- 27th June – Coventry – The Arches
- 4th July – Liverpool – Box Park & Arc:Hive
- 4th July – London – The Dome
- 4th July – Brighton – Daltons
- 4th July – Saltash – Livewire
- 5th July – Nuneaton – The Queens Hall
- 11th July – Oxford – The Jericho Tavern
- 11th July – Stoke – The Underground
- 12th July – Bristol – The Exchange
New Blood & EMP Stage Additions
While M2TM winners fill the majority of the New Blood stage, several cross-genre favorites have been hand-picked to complete the bill. New additions include Void Below, Temples On Mars, Negative Frame, and Concrete Age on Friday. Saturday welcomes Thrasherwolf, Imperial Demonic, Chained Saint, and Imbrium, while Sunday features Overpower.
The improved EMP Stage has also revealed its line-up:
- Friday: Untamed Silence, Change Persona, After Smoke Clears, Soulride, Vanitas
- Saturday: Goat Major, Cancel The Transmission, Tempest Saint, Trollmother, Dosed
- Sunday: Stitched, Wrex, Following The Signs, The Cartoon Cartel, Aethoria
Bloodstock Club Nights
Special club nights across the UK will offer fans the chance to win festival tickets:
- Sat 25th April – Camberley, Agincourt – Old Skool Rock and Metal Night
- Sat 25th April – York, Bluebox – Deadbolt
- Sat 25th April – Manchester, Rebellion – Deadbolt
- Sat 9th May – Bristol, Basement 45 – Apocalypse
- Fri 5th June – Guildford, All Bar One – Schism
- Sat 6th June – Brighton, Above – Apocalypse
- Sat 6th June – Birmingham, RedCorc Bar – Eddie’s Rock Club
- Sat 6th June – Nottingham, Rock City – Alpha Omega
- Sat 11th July – Isle of Wight, Strings – Apocalypse
- Sat 25th July – Southampton, Sobar – Apocalypse
- Fri 31st July – London, Elektrowerkz – Voodoo
Bloodstock 2026 takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire, from 6th–9th August 2026. While weekend tickets are sold out, day tickets are available for £99 (+ fees). Visit bloodstock.uk.com for full details.
